Bancroft residents will be banding together to bring their concerns to town council and to the province.
During Sunday’s Citizens’ Town Hall, Club 580 was filled with residents looking to voice their concerns about the state of Bancroft. Their concerns included the town’s high water and sewer rates and taxes, hydro rates, OPP costs, and how much the town has to pay for services.
Ultimately, a decision was made to create a ratepayers committee made up of Bancroft residents to figure out which concerns are priorities for the town. The Organizer of the Town Hall, Wilma Brethour, has agreed to lead the group. She says she believes the committee’s biggest priority will be the town’s water and sewer rates.
Councillors Barry and Tracy McGibbon and Mary Kavanagh attended the meeting. Barry McGibbon said council is dictated to what it can and cannot do, but is not getting any help from the province. McGibbon also said he would put forward a motion during an upcoming council meeting asking the town to have open discussions with the ratepayers committee. While Brethour would be open to talking to town council, she says the committee needs to meet independently first.
Brethour says she will get in touch with everyone interested in taking part this week. Anyone who still wants to join can call or text Brethour at (613) 334-7724, or email [email protected]. Brethour says there is a big fight ahead, but if the community bands together, it can make something happen.
The Ontario PC, NDP, and Liberal candidates for the Hastings-Lennox and Addington riding were also at the meeting. PC Candidate Darryl Kramp and Liberal Candidate Tim Rigby both say they would not sit on the committee, but would attend meetings to hear concerns. NDP Candidate Nate Smelle says he would sit on the committee and be an active voice.
Following the meeting, Moose FM spoke to all three candidates. Kramp said the ratepayers association is a great step forward because it can promote positive change by making sure rural concerns are heard by the province. Smelle called it a very inspiring meeting which saw a lot of great solutions put forward by engaged citizens. Rigby said the community faces a big problem, and while there are no simple solutions, he will work towards having the province get involved.
A video with messages from Bancroft residents was also created at the meeting. It will be sent to the province.
